Eye update w/pic

[Crazy Eyes]

Man what a long story...

About 3 days before my highschool graduation (2000) we were sitting in class basically doing nothing as it was too late in the year to start a new subject and reviews for finals were complete (good catholic education for ya). In other words, all I had to do was take my finals and walk out of there. So there I was sitting in my desk when I heard someone say "think fast". I look up and blam nothing but black in my right eye. I didn't know what had happed other then I couldn't see out of my right eye and the pain was starting to get pretty intense. Turned out, someone through the eraser for the chalk board across the room and I looked up just at the wrong time. I was supposed to live at the beach that summer (canceled), work summer job (canceled) and most importantly had several athletic scholarships sitting on the kitchen table that were now null and void. The next 4 months were all doctors visits. Total injury tally at that time was choroidal rupture, vitreous hemorrhage, I think I tore the iris as well. At the time of my injury there was no vision and at the end of 4 months it was 20/400. I was on more eye drops than you can think of, or maybe you can. I always tell people that my vision is like opening your eyes under water in a pool. Worst part about the whole ordeal was that six months post injury I was at my last of the monthly checkups, about to get the clear to resume playing soccer, and the dropped a bomb on me. My retina was almost fully detached. They did surgery that night and inserted a scleral buckle which reconnected the retina. 6 months after that I was back to normal aside from the vision which, according to some consevative docs, will never heal and I don't have any right to argue with them. As of now I have 20/200 vision and the center of my "visual field" is blind due to a scar between optic nerves. IE: I can hold my arm out and only be able to see my index and pinky finger (nothing in the middle). That's the reason I was intrigued by your post as I have read about this type of operation.

Told you it was a long story. Haha

I unfortunately will be one of those conservative docs that you don't have any right to argue with , but I am able to sympathize as I have a scar over the macula(area where detailed central vision occurs) of my right eye that limits my vision to 20/200 as well. Unfortunately there is not a procedure currently available to help when dealing with scarring on the retina. There could be some help in the future as current research using Stem cells is showing promising results and depending on many factors could be of benefit to patients with retinal scarring. Some potential in future using microchip implants as well. These are things worth paying attention to over the next 5-10 years to see where they go but I would not recommend being too early in line as long as your eye is not causing you pain and you can see some peripherally along with the 20/200 vision you have.

I had a patient get hit with an eraser about 10-11 years ago that caused a retinal tear and we were fortunately able to get it repaired before it could cause the retina to detach. This eraser was the small round one on the end of the pencil and thrown by the teacher!! Not sure what ever happened to the teacher but I have not seen that teacher in about 10-11 years in that community.

[cravertosu]

There could be some help in the future as current research using Stem cells is showing promising results and depending on many factors could be of benefit to patients with retinal scarring.

I read some stuff about that! The possibility of all that stuff is just amazing! Stem cells are some really awesome things with some GREAT potential!

I guess I was on the "lucky" side of the eye issues. Definitely have learned a TON through all of this. There is some great stuff and some awesome Ophthalmologist/Optometrists out there.

Sure hope erg is able to have some success with his vision.

Tim

[erg153]

I unfortunately will be one of those conservative docs that you don't have any right to argue with , but I am able to sympathize as I have a scar over the macula(area where detailed central vision occurs) of my right eye that limits my vision to 20/200 as well. Unfortunately there is not a procedure currently available to help when dealing with scarring on the retina. There could be some help in the future as current research using Stem cells is showing promising results and depending on many factors could be of benefit to patients with retinal scarring. Some potential in future using microchip implants as well. These are things worth paying attention to over the next 5-10 years to see where they go but I would not recommend being too early in line as long as your eye is not causing you pain and you can see some peripherally along with the 20/200 vision you have.

I had a patient get hit with an eraser about 10-11 years ago that caused a retinal tear and we were fortunately able to get it repaired before it could cause the retina to detach. This eraser was the small round one on the end of the pencil and thrown by the teacher!! Not sure what ever happened to the teacher but I have not seen that teacher in about 10-11 years in that community.

Thanks Crazy. I do try and do some research each year on the lates and greatest procedures. By they way my comment was not meant to come across in any way disrespectful to my doctors. I had a great team of doctors that went from "you will probably lose your eye" to "we can save your eye but vision will be limited". I am thankful for the work that they did and when they told me 20/200 was going to be as good as it got I was happy with that and in no position to argue for more. I count my many blessings and having 1 1/2 eyes is one of them!